Water Butts and Watering Equipment

Without water plants will die and our gardens will look pretty bleak so every garden needs some sort of water device. Rain is clearly the natural source of water but it's a brave gardener who leaves it to chance that the rain will fall at the right time and in the right amount.

The objective of watering is to recharge the moisture level in the soil so that it will last until the next rainfall or watering. The amount of watering required will depend on your soil type and on the plants you have chosen to grow.

Generally it is better to water thoroughly allowing the water to penetrate the soil quite deeply rather than just watering little and often. Just watering a little will often mean that it evaporates before the water has chance to do any good.

A water butt collects and stores rainwater for when it is needed. Rain water is good for acid loving plants and of course is free (once you've paid for the butt) so is perfect for households on a water meter.

At least one watering can is a must and you'll probably need at least 2 – a smaller one for indoors and a larger one for outside. If you plan on using any liquid weedkillers then it's best to keep a separate can especially for this purpose and make sure it is clearly marked. And if and when your watering can springs a leak just turn it into yet another quirky planter!